The 3 Aspects of Composition in Art

As a budding artist, it now becomes your task to immerse your audience into the world you're building through your work. Whether it's a drawing or a painting, being a fantastic storyteller is important and one of the skills that can help you become amazing at storytelling is composition.

What is composition?

In visual arts, composition refers to the placement or arrangement of all the visual elements in your work aside from your subject.
 
Composition refers to how your artwork's mood, lighting and even shadows are tied together. A strong and proper composition is essential in everything you will do as an artist. Once you are able to lead your audience into the world you created and make them feel as if they are a part of the picture, consider yourself a true artist.
 
In composition, there are three rules or techniques we follow: the Rule of Thirds, Iconic and Leading the Eye.  

The Rule of Thirds

​The Rule of Thirds is the simplest of all the three composition techniques. As it is the simplest, it is widely recommended for beginners.
 
When applying the Rule of Thirds, you have to divide your canvas (or paper) into nine equal parts made using two pairs of horizontal and vertical lines.
 
The main objective of this technique is to place your subject or your most essential element in one of the intersections where the lines meet.
 
When applied properly such that your subject or focal point sits on one of the intersections, your artwork becomes more interesting than simply having it centered.
 
Below are some examples of The Rule of Thirds for inspiration: 

Iconic

​Opposite to the Rule of Thirds, this second technique of composition sets the subject or the focal point right at the center of your work. While it is commonly applied in character-based artworks (like in the examples we will share with you below), you can use this technique anywhere a central focal point is desired.
 
To make sure your subject is sitting right in the center of your piece, a diamond-shaped guide is always used.
 
A diamond guide will tell you where you should place most of the attention or detail of your artwork - this is in addition to how you will place your lighting, color, details and other visual aspects. 

​Anything that will fall outside of the diamond is secondary or not as important and therefore should not attract more attention than what's sitting within the diamond.
 
Check out these examples of art pieces that follow the Iconic technique:

Leading the Eye

​And for our last and final technique, the Leading the Eye. It's probably the most complicated of all three, but it's a skill you can learn and master through tons of practice.
 
Leading the Eye is made of several steps - deciding where the area of interest is in your artwork (it does not necessarily have to be at the center), arranging all the visual elements such that it moves your audience's eye to that area of interest and re-arranging again to redirect the eye away from the area of interest to the other parts of your artwork.
 
To keep your audience's attention within the boundaries of your work, avoid committing any design flaws that would take their focus out of our work.
 
Accomplishing these objectives is possible when you keep the following tips in mind:

• the human eye is attracted from a distance by brightness and contrast
• the human eye investigates from the bottom and moves up and to the right
• the human eye is attracted also up close by hard edges, crossing lines, warm colors, details and contrasts
• the human eye almost always misses areas with little value contrast, soft edges and colors of the same shade
• the human eye moves along a hard edge and a gradation from darkness to lightness
• the human eye is confined by hard edges too
• the human eye is stimulated with irregularity and variety
• the human eye also needs a place to rest

​Check out these examples below for some ‘Leading the Eye’ inspiration:

Your turn to learn composition

​Learn how to apply the different rules and techniques of composition in your paintings and drawings at Art Smart. Composition is just one of the many art skills we will equip you with so you’re always one step ahead to becoming an artist. Whether you are pursuing art as a hobby or as a calling, our teachers will make sure you get the proper foundation and guidance as you explore and improve your technique.
 
Below is our 2017 art class schedule for your reference. For class bookings, reservations and other inquiries, do not hesitate to call us at 0915-5948191, 0917-8784766 or (02)7886766.

Photo sources:
 
www.helloartsy.com
www.theartistsroad.net
www.photographymad.com
www.smartpress.com
www.jonrocke.wordpress.com
www.humanitiesusa.wordpress.com
www.sites.google.com/site/jnasue/composition
www.kaioshen.deviantart.com
www.campbellkinggadconceptart.blogspot.com